Actress Kajol is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film Salaam Venky. This marks his return to the big screen almost three years after Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020). Salaam Venky, directed by actor-filmmaker Revathi, is based on a true story and explores the relationship between a mother and son, a Duchenne muscular dystrophy survivor, and celebrates the human spirit.
Earlier, Kajol had revealed that she was reluctant to be a part of the emotional drama as it is ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’. In an exclusive conversation with News18, he told how he convinced himself to do the film. “It was a great script but the subject matter was a bit heavy and hence, I thought it might be a personal fear I had to face. But I also knew that if I didn’t do the film, I would regret it. I knew that Revathi ma’am would turn the script into such a good film. I am really glad that I did,” she says.
Kajol shared that she always wanted to be directed by Revathi, especially after watching her Hindi directorial debut Phir Milenge (2004), which starred Salman Khan, Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Abhishek Bachchan, and dealt with AIDS and AIDS. revolved around the taboo surrounding it.
Talking about it, the 48-year-old says, “I saw Revathi’s Ma’am’s previous film Phir Milenge. I remember watching it and thinking to myself, ‘What a sensitive film!’ It was such a well balanced film and it started a different conversation altogether. I kept thinking at that time how wonderful it would be to get a chance to work with her because she is amazing.
Appreciating Revathi for Salaam Venky, Kajol commented, “She lived up to my expectations. If there is a star in the film, I would say it is the director.
While the Tribhanga (2021) actress was apprehensive about signing up for the film, she now believes that working on Salaam Venky and playing her character has made her fearless as a mother. She elaborates, “I think the one thing Salaam Venky taught me as a film was to be less scared. I didn’t want to do this film because I was scared [the film revolves around the fear of a mother losing her child], I would say to myself, ‘Don’t even think of it.’ But going to work and facing that fear every day made me stop being afraid of it.”
Kajol feels this has helped her develop an easier equation with her kids Nysa and Yug. “Your kids start to feel it too when you’re not so scared about them. They also end up not having that fear in their hearts about you. You feel a sense of openness with them.” And they feel it too.”
Ask her about her reaction after watching her performance in Salaam Venky and Kajol, “My daughter has told me clearly that she is not sure whether she wants to watch the film or not. But I would emotionally blackmail my son and take him to watch it (laughs).
The actor, who will soon be making his web series debut with the Hindi adaptation of The Good Wife, adds, “I know I will manage to take her to the theatre. But my daughter is studying abroad, so I can’t take her by the ear to watch a movie. I have to behave with my children so that they watch my films. What to do? I am making Salaam Venky, not Golmaal.”
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